Genetic study Ancient DNA indicates 3,000 years of genetic continuity in the Northern Iranian Plateau

[Anfänger]

Ancient DNA indicates 3,000 years of genetic continuity in the Northern Iranian Plateau, from the Copper Age to the Sassanid Empire​

Abstract​

In this study, we present new ancient DNA data from prehistoric and historic populations of the Iranian Plateau. By analysing 50 samples from nine archaeological sites across Iran, we report 23 newly sequenced mitogenomes and 13 nuclear genomes, spanning 4700 BCE to 1300 CE. We integrate an extensive reference sample set of previously published ancient DNA datasets from Western and South–Central Asia, enhancing our understanding of genetic continuity and diversity within ancient Iranian populations. A new Early Chalcolithic sample, predating all other Chalcolithic genomes from Iran, demonstrates mostly Early Neolithic Iranian genetic ancestry. This finding reflects long–term cultural and biological continuity in and around the Zagros area, alongside evidence of some western genetic influence. Our sample selection prioritizes northern Iran, with a particular focus on the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid periods (355 BCE–460 CE). The genetic profiles of historical samples from this region position them as intermediates on an east-west genetic cline across the Persian Plateau. They also exhibit strong connections to local and South-Central Asian Bronze Age populations, underscoring enduring genetic connections across these regions. Diachronic analyses of uniparental lineages on the Iranian Plateau further highlight population stability from prehistoric to modern times.

Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.03.636298v1

 

[MOESAN]

maybe one more survey about "continuity" (what signification to give to this term?). I 'll try to find the complete survey. Thanks ATW.

 

[Ricardo]

Good news, a new preprint with my specific J1 clade from the Caspian Sea !
[" We discovered two rare Y-DNA haplogroups, J1a2a2a~ in Liarsangbon (J-FGC6141 or J-FGC6031, https://www.yfull.com/tree/J-FGC6031/ "]
Three new samples from our J1-FGC6064 lineage, the first ancient DNA from our clade, Liarsangbon, Amlash, Gilan Iran_North
Three Parthian samples:
IRN23 and IRN25, a pair of genetically identical/twin individuals from Liarsangbon 200BCE to 100AD - J1-FGC6141 J1-FGC6069
IRN31 also from Liarsangbon 50BCE to 65 AD - J1-FGC6142

Ancient Northern Iranians were integrants of the native Proto-Indo-Europeans.

 

[Moja]

All ancient Persian and Parthian samples are J.

 

[Hawk]

All ancient Persian and Parthian samples are J.

The actual study has only sampled 7 samples. That's too few to make conclusions. IMO, Y-DNA R1a is found among modern Iranian and is the missing link between Indo-Iranians and Balto-Slavs. Pashtuns an Iranian tribe carry the R1a as much as ~60%.

In saying that, Y-DNA J1 and J2 are quite expected to be found, but Y-DNA R1a is inevitable among ancient Iranics.

 

[kingdavid]

Thanks for sharing
Surprising that there is not even a single case of e1b1b1 here
( i did expect to see at least 1 e1b1b1 case at the historical periods :Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid
it look like generally speaking e1b1b1 preferred to move north to Anatolia rather than east to the Iranian plateau )

 

[Moja]

The actual study has only sampled 7 samples. That's too few to make conclusions. IMO, Y-DNA R1a is found among modern Iranian and is the missing link between Indo-Iranians and Balto-Slavs. Pashtuns an Iranian tribe carry the R1a as much as ~60%.

In saying that, Y-DNA J1 and J2 are quite expected to be found, but Y-DNA R1a is inevitable among ancient Iranics.

R1a came to South Asia by Hephthalites about 1500 years and it has nothing to do with Indo-Iranians.

Ad you read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hephthalites Pashtuns are the descendants of Hephthalites and for this reason they have a large amount of R1a.

 

[Hawk]

R1a came to South Asia by Hephthalites about 1500 years and it has nothing to do with Indo-Iranians.

Ad you read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hephthalites Pashtuns are the descendants of Hephthalites and for this reason they have a large amount of R1a.

Ironic, because this paper was published today by Lazaridis

The Indo-Iranians, the largest surviving Indo-European group of Asia, were ultimately descended from the Corded Ware too,via a long chain of eastward migrations to Fatyanovo51 and Sintashta8,34

https://reich.hms.harvard.edu/sites/reich.hms.harvard.edu/files/inline-files/2025_LazaridisPattersonAnthonyVyazov_IndoEuropean_Nature.pdf

Corded-Ware = majority R1a.

 

[Anfänger]

The actual study has only sampled 7 samples. That's too few to make conclusions. IMO, Y-DNA R1a is found among modern Iranian and is the missing link between Indo-Iranians and Balto-Slavs. Pashtuns an Iranian tribe carry the R1a as much as ~60%.

In saying that, Y-DNA J1 and J2 are quite expected to be found, but Y-DNA R1a is inevitable among ancient Iranics.

You probably mean the 7 Achaemenid and Seleucid samples but the actual paper has 12 Parthian and Sassanid (Neo-Persian Empire) sample as well and none of them is R1a, which is surprising considering that modern (western) Iranians have a significant proportion of R1a Y-DNA lineages.

Persians and Medes and with them R1a most likely had entered the Iranian Plateau from exactly this northern Route which was also later used by Silk Road merchants east-west and west-east. Other routes further south were locked by two big uninhabited deserts. Furthermore, the Parthians were recent arrivals from Central Asia, I had expected at least some R1a from this period.

By the way, I am not agreeing with Moja´s ridiculous claims. Proto-Iranians are the result of Andronovo and BMAC mixing.

 

[Anfänger]

Thanks for sharing
Surprising that there is not even a single case of e1b1b1 here
( i did expect to see at least 1 e1b1b1 case at the historical periods :Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid
it look like generally speaking e1b1b1 preferred to move north to Anatolia rather than east to the Iranian plateau )

You're welcome. When do you think it must have entered the Iranian Plateau and with which population? I know your knowledge of E1b1b1 is much more profound than mine.

 

[Hawk]

You probably mean the 7 Achaemenid and Seleucid samples but the actual paper has 12 Parthian and Sassanid (Neo-Persian Empire) sample as well and none of them is R1a, which is surprising considering that modern (western) Iranians have a significant proportion of R1a Y-DNA lineages.

Persians and Medes and with them R1a most likely had entered the Iranian Plateau from exactly this northern Route which was also later used by Silk Road merchants east-west and west-east. Other routes further south were locked by two big uninhabited deserts. Furthermore, the Parthians were recent arrivals from Central Asia, I had expected at least some R1a from this period.

By the way, I am not agreeing with Moja´s ridiculous claims. Proto-Iranians are the result of Andronovo and BMAC mixing.

Well, from the supplements table i counted 8 actually not 7 (to stand corrected).

What created historical Indo-Iranians is probably these Corded-Ware migrants with R1a and Iran-CHG Farmers with Y-DNA J1 and J2 (Well, Iran seem to be quite diverse in terms of Y-DNA, R2, G1, G2, L and whatever haplogroups i forgot). Now the percentage can vary, that i am not familiar with, i know Iran is rich with Y-DNA J as well which i expect the preceeding civilization, the Elamites, to have been rich as well.

 

[kingdavid]

You're welcome. When do you think it must have entered the Iranian Plateau and with which population? I know your knowledge of E1b1b1 is much more profound than mine.

hard question since it is very complicated
up until now not even 1 e1b1b1 was discovered in ancient dna studies from Iranian plateau territory
but for some unknown reason it was found to the east of it ( BMAC culture: individual I2085 from Turkmenistan and also I10551 individual from Tajikistan who is in low quality but for sure under e1b1b )
so it is truly an enigma look like there was some e1b1b1 movement who skipped the Iranian plateau

 

[Anfänger]

Well, from the supplements table i counted 8 actually not 7 (to stand corrected).


What created historical Indo-Iranians is probably these Corded-Ware migrants with R1a and Iran-CHG Farmers with Y-DNA J1 and J2 (Well, Iran seem to be quite diverse in terms of Y-DNA, R2, G1, G2, L and whatever haplogroups i forgot). Now the percentage can vary, that i am not familiar with, i know Iran is rich with Y-DNA J as well which i expect the preceeding civilization, the Elamites, to have been rich as well.

Okay, now I know what you mean, my bad. Those that are male and have Y-DNA assigned.

Yes, they are CWC-derived but only distantly through a long movement east over nearly 2000 years with Fatyanovo to Sintashta/Andronovo and then the crucial mixing with BMAC farmers, which made them Early Iranics, before entering Iran from the Yaz-culture. Interestingly, there is a Yaz-sample with R1a, so I do expect R1a in Persians and Medes in upcoming papers.

 

[Moja]

Ironic, because this paper was published today by Lazaridis



Corded-Ware = majority R1a.

It really doesn't matter what they say because Linear Elamite inscriptions have been read and we already know that Indo-Iranians definitely lived in the south of Iran in the 3rd millennium BC, several centuries before the formation of Andronovo and Sintashta cultures.

The great book of Dr. Stanislav Grigoriev about the Origin and migrations of the Indo-Aryans was also published recently: https://www.researchgate.net/public...riev_Origin_and_migrations_of_the_Indo-Aryans

Abstract

The monograph is devoted to the problem of the origin and early history of the Indo-Aryans. According to the generally accepted theory, they were formed in the steppe of Eurasia, from where they migrated to the Indian subcontinent and the Iranian plateau. However, there is no real data that indicates these processes. The author has collected linguistic, paleogenetic and archaeological data; on their basis, the processes that took place in the Eneolithic and Bronze Ages over large areas of Eurasia have been reconstructed, and it has been shown that the homeland of the Indo-Iranians was in Northwestern Iran, from where some migrated to Southeastern Iran, which led to the emergence of Indo-Aryan dialects around the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. From there, from the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, the migration of Indo-Aryan tribes to the north-east of Iran and Central Asia began, which later ended with migration to India, as well as to the Near East, Eastern Europe, the Southern Urals and, occasionally, to Southern Siberia.

 

[MOESAN]

It really doesn't matter what they say because Linear Elamite inscriptions have been read and we already know that Indo-Iranians definitely lived in the south of Iran in the 3rd millennium BC, several centuries before the formation of Andronovo and Sintashta cultures.

The great book of Dr. Stanislav Grigoriev about the Origin and migrations of the Indo-Aryans was also published recently: https://www.researchgate.net/public...riev_Origin_and_migrations_of_the_Indo-Aryans

Could you develop about Linear Elamite writings and the link with the presence of Iranians speakers in Iran of the time? Thanks beforehand.

 

[Moja]

Ironic, because this paper was published today by Lazaridis



Corded-Ware = majority R1a.

It really doesn't matter what they say because Linear Elamite inscriptions have been read and we already know that Indo-Iranians definitely lived in the south of Iran in the 3rd millennium BC, several centuries before the formation of Andronovo and Sintashta cultures.

Good news, a new preprint with my specific J1 clade from the Caspian Sea !
[" We discovered two rare Y-DNA haplogroups, J1a2a2a~ in Liarsangbon (J-FGC6141 or J-FGC6031, https://www.yfull.com/tree/J-FGC6031/ "]
Three new samples from our J1-FGC6064 lineage, the first ancient DNA from our clade, Liarsangbon, Amlash, Gilan Iran_North
Three Parthian samples:
IRN23 and IRN25, a pair of genetically identical/twin individuals from Liarsangbon 200BCE to 100AD - J1-FGC6141 J1-FGC6069
IRN31 also from Liarsangbon 50BCE to 65 AD - J1-FGC6142

Ancient Northern Iranians were integrants of the native Proto-Indo-Europeans.

 

[Moja]

Could you develop about Linear Elamite writings and the link with the presence of Iranians speakers in Iran of the time? Thanks beforehand.

For example read it:

Problems of Linear Elamite by Walter Hinz: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25203649

On the silver goblet it is now clearly recognizable as a rising sun with six rays, to be read perhaps as Nahiti ‘sun’

About 50 years ago Walther Hinz thought we should read Elamite Nahiti "sun" in the inscription of Silver cup from Marvdasht but Francois Desset reads Indo-Iranian Shuwar "sun": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_Elamite

Silver cup (item Q) from Marvdasht, Fars, with Linear-Elamite inscription on it, from the 3rd millennium BCE and kept in the National Museum of Iran. According to Desset et al., the inscription reads "For the Lady of Marapsha (toponym), (named) Shuwar-asu, I made this silver vase. In the Temple that will be known by my name, Humshat, I dedicated it with goodwill for you."

History of Early Iran, by George Cameron: https://isac.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/docs/history_early_iran.pdf

The Hindu Sun-god Surya (generally written Shuwar) in the Amarna letters in the middle 14th century BC.

 

[MOESAN]

It really doesn't matter what they say because Linear Elamite inscriptions have been read and we already know that Indo-Iranians definitely lived in the south of Iran in the 3rd millennium BC, several centuries before the formation of Andronovo and Sintashta cultures.

The great book of Dr. Stanislav Grigoriev about the Origin and migrations of the Indo-Aryans was also published recently: https://www.researchgate.net/public...riev_Origin_and_migrations_of_the_Indo-Aryans

Could you develop about Linear Elamite writings and the link with the presence of Iranians speakers in Iran of the time? Thanks beforehand.

It really doesn't matter what they say because Linear Elamite inscriptions have been read and we already know that Indo-Iranians definitely lived in the south of Iran in the 3rd millennium BC, several centuries before the formation of Andronovo and Sintashta cultures.

View attachment 17698

View attachment 17699

interesting phonetic similarities but we have to be cautious as always;
we have to try to compare historical phonetic evolutions of dialects, and if two people names can be compared in fine, we have to appreciate the implication of these similarities and their depths in time, because an ancient common IE origin can explain these similarities without ore specific and more recent ties between them. Same thing for Veniti in Europe...

 

[MOESAN]

It really doesn't matter what they say because Linear Elamite inscriptions have been read and we already know that Indo-Iranians definitely lived in the south of Iran in the 3rd millennium BC, several centuries before the formation of Andronovo and Sintashta cultures.

The great book of Dr. Stanislav Grigoriev about the Origin and migrations of the Indo-Aryans was also published recently: https://www.researchgate.net/public...riev_Origin_and_migrations_of_the_Indo-Aryans

Could you develop about Linear Elamite writings and the link with the presence of Iranians speakers in Iran of the time? Thanks beforehand.

It really doesn't matter what they say because Linear Elamite inscriptions have been read and we already know that Indo-Iranians definitely lived in the south of Iran in the 3rd millennium BC, several centuries before the formation of Andronovo and Sintashta cultures.

View attachment 17698

View attachment 17699

interesting phonetic similarities but we have to be cautious as always;
we have to try to compare historical phonetic evolutions of dialects, and if two people names can be compared in fine, we have to appreciate the implication of these similarities and their depths in time, because an ancient common IE origin can explain these similarities without ore specific and more recent ties between them. Same thing for Veniti in Europe... I think that somebody who finds deeply could find a lot more of similarities between same family languages and even between languages of more diverse origins.

 

[Moja]

interesting phonetic similarities but we have to be cautious as always;
we have to try to compare historical phonetic evolutions of dialects, and if two people names can be compared in fine, we have to appreciate the implication of these similarities and their depths in time, because an ancient common IE origin can explain these similarities without ore specific and more recent ties between them. Same thing for Veniti in Europe... I think that somebody who finds deeply could find a lot more of similarities between same family languages and even between languages of more diverse origins.

The main problem is that it is generally believed that Iran was just the land of Elamites and Iranian-speaking people but this country was actually the land of Indo-Europeans.

For example we know Geneva in Switzerland and Genoa/Genova in Italy has the same Indo-European origin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva

"The city was mentioned in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava,[26] probably from the Celtic *genawa- from the stem *genu- ("mouth"), in the sense of an estuary, an etymology shared with the Italian port city of Genoa (in Italian Genova).[27][28]"

What about the ancient port city of Genava in Iran? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandar_Ganaveh (in Iranian language it should be Zanua)

Or we know the names of Celtic Brigantes and Germanic Burgundi tribes have the same Indo-European origin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigantes

What about Birgandi people in Iran? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birjand (in Iranian language it should be Berezaiti)

Or we know the names Italic Samnites and Germanic Semnones tribes have the same Indo-European origin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samnites

What about Semnani people in Iran? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semnani_people (in Iranian language it should be Hamnana)

The name of Germani people was first mentioned by Herodotus as an ancient people in Iran, the name of Gaeli people was first mentioned by Pliny as ancient people in Iran, ...